The sun is shining brightly.
In the subtropical Georgia Territory, spring always arrives a bit earlier.
Clip-clop... Clip-clop... Clip-clop...
Four carriages bearing the Galliot family crest of the "Thorny Crown Sea Serpent" sequentially crossed a wooden bridge set over a downstream river of Waterfall Hill, slowly coming to a stop at the edge of the lush coniferous forest under the Wizard Tower of the "Vitalist School."
A group of youths, having already donned their gray apprentice robes, obeyed orders as they jumped out of the carriages, forming two sowhat disordered lines at the forest’s edge. Gazing at the slightly dark and dense conifer forest before them, so felt uneasy while others were eager to try their luck.
Various indistinct sounds from the forest reached their ears, and no one doubted the presence of beasts drifting through it, though the danger posed by carnivorous creatures remained uncertain.
Among those eager to try was Little Dick, who had just turned eleven and had forsaken the family tradition of being a [Gunman] to embrace the [Wizard]’s path. At the mont, he was not only unafraid but was also winking at new companions.
These children were among the twenty-three youths with wizarding aptitude in the territory, whose affinity with the ’Vitalist School’ was excellent or above during the last recruitnt plan.
The oldest among them was no more than 16, while the youngest had just turned 10, consisting of fourteen boys and nine girls.
At this age, they didn’t really feel hosick. Once out of their parents’ sight, most behaved like untethered wild horses. Although not daring enough to misbehave while at the Governor’s Mansion the past few days, their true nature gradually began to surface.
Although both Angie and Calvin were 15 years old, their past experiences had evidently matured them beyond their years, sparing Aiven much concern.
Clad in the sa apprentice robes, but with a gold Life Tree Badge on his chest, Calvin clapped his hands. Once everyone looked over, he puffed his chest and adopted the deanor of a dignified second senior brother, saying in a serious tone:
"Alright, everyone follow and be careful not to straggle. Since Senior Sister Angie isn’t here today, the demonized creatures in the conifer forest might not be as obedient."
Hearing the term "demonized creatures," even the most mischievous fellows noticeably quieted down.
The New Continent’s survival environnt is far less friendly than the Old Continent’s, with "savage beasts" and "demonized creatures" often appearing in children’s stories.
These creatures are terrifying monsters comparable to Official Knights, dreadful beings that even a large group of gunn hunters would rather avoid.
If there were an "exotic foreigners are so few" series in the otherworldly version, they might not even find such a breed of crazy warriors.
Under Calvin’s lead, the group nervously traversed the conifers jointly guarded by the Midorra Fragnt and demonized creatures, while steep stone steps and the beast’s howls at their ears posed great challenges.
What seed simple to the Extraordinaries was significantly harder for them; only when the sun was about to set did they finally reach halfway up the mountain.
The mont they erged from the forest, they felt rejuvenated, as if given a new lease on life.
Yet no one knew Calvin had started by talking nonsense in a straight face. Even without Angie, demonized beasts in the forest wouldn’t attack their apprentices.
In fact, now that the high tower’s [Teleportation Gate] had been constructed, transmitting them directly from Brunswick’s Governor’s Mansion to here was feasible, but entering the Wizard Tower and treading the Wizard Apprentice’s path wasn’t about comfort.
If one seeks longevity down the Wizard’s road, it’ll always co with innurable risks like pollution, curses, loss of control, madness... Comfort isn’t one of them.
It’s uncertain how many among this batch of apprentices would personally learn, through this mountain path, the significance of perseverance, tenacity, and caution on the Wizard’s path.
A tall and imposing tower stood silently upon this ticulously crafted flat stone platform.
Composed entirely of hard light gray granite, from its base to the sharp-tipped top, the tower’s total height reached thirty ters. "Venom" completely covered the entire exterior wall of the Wizard Tower, making it appear like an unimaginably vast green giant tree against the verdant mountain forests.
Today, to welco the first batch of apprentices, the tower’s steward Midorra, newly promoted, had deliberately disabled the usually active concealnt feature.
A group of youths standing below the tower looking up at the tall spire felt waves of dizziness.
Who had ever seen such a tall building on the New Continent? Even the tallest Cathedral of the Iron Cross Church in the colonies lacked the wizarding tower’s grandeur.
At the sa ti.
Screech—
Two massive horned eagles, with wingspans close to five ters, circled the tower’s top once before swiftly vanishing into the distance.
These were actual "demonized creatures," part of a creature class within their school!
Dazzled by the spectacle, they were about to follow Calvin towards the wizarding tower’s great gate.
Klunk... Klunk...
At the pointed arch tower gate’s entrance, two stone-knight sculptures wielding swords stood and gave a welcoming gesture, then reached out, opening the tower’s grand gate for them.
The forr lay within their comprehension, but the moving stone sculptures shattered their fundantal understanding.
This scene didn’t just throw open the wizarding tower’s door for the astounded youths; it also opened a door to an entirely new world. A seed planted in their hearts, one day to take root and sprout, growing into a towering new tree.
"Ladies and gentlen, welco to our ’Vitalist School’ Wizard Tower!"
Calvin opened his arms wide, brimming with vigor and delight.
Although the school’s two Official Wizards weren’t around, this apprentice enrollnt had long been settled; with Calvin and Midorra, who had completed their foundational studies, present, the standard induction could comnce.
The wizard tower’s well-equipped first-floor public activity room and second-floor living area would soon formally open to them.
Aiven had also long stipulated the tower’s regulations, granting so managent authority of the Wizard Tower to his direct disciples, Angie, and Calvin.
These new ordinary apprentices would begin with mass lectures, potentially becoming Aiven’s true disciples only after receiving recognition. Outsider Apprentices, essentially Aiven’s Servant Demons, focused on different learning priorities.
At this mont.
Through the [Teleportation Gate] within the Wizard Tower, Olivia arrived directly at the seventh-floor tower master’s quarters and looked down at the scene below her. She was pleased by the Vitalist School’s expansion and happy for Aiven, yet she couldn’t help the latent worry gnawing at her heart.
Ever since Aiven embarked with Angie to locate the two apprentices with great affinity for the "Vitalist School" from the "Dream Ceremony," three entire days had passed, yet they hadn’t returned.
Especially troubling was Bess’s report of a massive spirit tide detected near Lake Huron by the "Mind Network" on that day, accompanied by the terrifying sight of a thousand Alchemy Bombs exploding on Lake Heart Island—a spectacle difficult to ignore.
It was easy to deduce that Aiven had engaged in intense combat with an unknown foe, leading to an unexpected outco in the end.
Milan’s divination couldn’t pinpoint his whereabouts, not even confirm his life or death.
Even their usually uninterrupted nightly Spirit Realm Exploration had ceased, marking an exception for the first ti in a long while.
Thankfully, Aiven’s beacon anchor ground, "Lost City Poseidya," remained unaffected, and remarkably, the Life Tree used as a beacon remained verdant; with assistance from "Magnetic Ore," it had nearly covered the first tier of the six-tiered step-like city.
It suggested he was still living well.
Nevertheless, Olivia, feeling bleak and distressed, kept vigil in the Spirit Realm every night, hoping to receive news from Aiven as soon as possible.
...
"A strange ceiling..."
When Aiven awoke, slowly regaining consciousness, this was his first thought.
Then.
He instantly recalled everything before losing consciousness.
Whoosh—
With lightning speed, he flipped upright, scanning his surroundings.
He found himself in the cabin of a dilapidated sailing ship, and his sharp sense of sll imdiately picked up the salty, briny scent of the sea.
Aiven’s face slightly changed color next because... Angie wasn’t by his side!
In two moves, he rushed out of the cabin, darting onto the deck, realizing that this small sailing vessel, adorned in Atrean style with colorful paints, vibrant canopies, and black eagle totems, had only himself aboard.
Despite no trace of even the slightest breeze stirring the green sea surface, the sailboat was propelling itself forward at great speed.
A short distance ahead appeared a stretch of white beach, no, rather, a white desert, as the vast sandy stretch extended to the edge of sight.
Desolate... Lifeless...
An expanse of barren, pure-white desert lay before Aiven where everything had withered away; even dirt, stones, and even the air had perished, with the magic elent’s activity as rigid and inert as stone.
"Where is this place?"
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